The Denver Broncos have a standout cornerback in Patrick Surtain II, but they haven’t managed to find a reliable partner to help alleviate the pressure on him.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has suggested a trade that could resolve this issue. The proposal involves sending a 2025 fourth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for cornerback Eric Stokes.
Ballentine notes that last season, the Broncos’ opponents exploited the other cornerback position, targeting Fabian Moreau and Damarri Mathis a combined 99 times, leading to 990 yards and four touchdowns. Denver brought in Levi Wallace to address this gap, but Wallace, now 29, struggled with six touchdowns allowed during his previous season with the Steelers. Eric Stokes, on the other hand, is in the last year of his rookie deal and, despite injury setbacks limiting him to 12 games over the past two years, has a strong first-round pedigree. With Stokes performing well in Packers training camp and potentially healthy for the 2024 season, he could be worth the investment of a fourth-round pick.
Packers Declined Fifth-Year Option on Stokes
Stokes, a first-round pick (No. 29 overall) by the Packers from Georgia in 2021, had a promising start with 14 games as a rookie. However, injuries have significantly impacted his career over the past two seasons. He managed only 9 games in 2022 due to an ankle injury and was limited to just 3 games in 2023 because of a hamstring issue.
These setbacks led the Packers to decline the fifth-year option on Stokes’ four-year, $11.9 million rookie contract, which would have paid him $12.472 million in 2025. As a result, he will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. If Stokes can replicate his rookie performance of 55 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and 1 interception—whether with the Broncos, Packers, or another team—he could position himself for a significant contract in 2025.
Surtain is NFL’s Best CB … But Needs Some Help
According to ESPN’s preseason poll of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, Pat Surtain has been ranked as the top cornerback in the league heading into the 2024 season, a notable rise from his previous No. 10 ranking in 2023.
However, Surtain’s situation is challenging due to the Broncos’ struggles. The team has not made the playoffs since 2015 and hasn’t had a winning season since 2016. For 2024, the Broncos are expected to either start a lackluster veteran quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, or a rookie, Bo Nix, who was the 12th overall pick. This uncertainty has led oddsmakers to set Denver’s projected win total at just 5.5, ahead of only the struggling Carolina Panthers.
Despite these challenges, Surtain remains a standout player. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox highlighted him on July 25 as one of the few “true” franchise players in the NFL. Knox praised Surtain, noting that despite the Broncos’ lack of star power, Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, has quickly become one of the league’s premier defensive backs and is arguably the best young cover corner in the NFL.
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